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Editorial Reviews

2010 Sophomore album produced by Paul Epworth (Florence+the Machine) from English singer/rapper and follow up to his Top 40 (UK) debut "Who Needs Actions When You Got Words (2006)". Includes the UK Top 10 "Stay Too Long". NME is quoted as"Plan B has transformed himself into a retro soulster with designs on Winehouse's throne". 13 tracks.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Ben Drew is Plan B and his sophomore CD "The defamation of Strickland Banks" comprises Motown/Northern Soul-inflected music, in sharp contrast to his Hip Hop/Rap debut.

Making him stand out just that more from a scene already awash with the likes of Daniel Merriweather, Duffy, Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and the rest, is his interspersing of verses spoken/rapped in his pronounced British accent, much like fellow Brit The Streets.

The album is a concept album, with each track telling different parts of the tail of some Strickland Banks character who gets locked up for a crime he didn't commit. Drew sings in a throaty falsetto, sort of a cross between Terence Trent D'Arby and Smokey Robinson.

"Love goes down" is an incredibly beautiful ballad with sweeping strings, fleeting horns, and lovely harmonies and it's a deadringer for a Motown classic. Upping the tempo are the organ/horn-drenched "Writing's on the wall" and "Stay too long" (with a Rocky Hendrix feel and rapped bridge).

The lovely "She said" is lilting with parping horns and a rapped section, while the ballad "Welcome to hell" (chronicling Banks arrival at prison) sounds rather heavenly, complete with a choir. "The recluse" is upbeat with a dizzying string section, while "Prayin'" and the horn-driven "What you gonna do" (with rapped verses and euphoric sung chorus) are both retro Soul delights, the latter closest in sound to his debut.

Drew handles his translation with much better aplomb than Lil Wayne did, and the album has already topped the UK charts. This is a delightful change in musical direction that is both passionate and beautiful, and which find Drew a major name at the end of the year.

The sheer talent and vision of Plan B for his Defamation of Strickland Banks is awe inspiring! Each song plays as a chapter in the story of the life of Strickland and what all he goes through. But the best part is that each chapter evolves into the next creating an entire musical (and soon to be released motion picture in the UK) phenomenon!!! It is the best musical journey done by an artist in ages. This is not just a cd of music, this is a work of art and vision with great beat, excellent vocals and the all encompassing talent of Plan B. A very energetic and enlightening listen!! Enjoy!!

A surprising sound from a British rapper - modern Motown melodies delivered with a Smokey Robinson-infused voice. Nice.

The fictional Strickland Banks makes for an interesting story-telling concept that unites all the songs. 'Welcome to Hell' became a quick favorite, followed by the soft rap of 'What You Gonna Do'. That said, I'm not as fond of the rap passages in several other songs, but non-rap fans have plenty to choose from.

Prediction: This new Motown sound would normally have massive mainstream appeal once it reaches American audiences, but the obvious use of the word "f**k" in certain songs will be a barrier for some (it's not overly used, but definitely present). Despite the sweet Smokey voice and amazing Motown-inspired tunes, don't forget that Plan B is still a rapper...a multi-talented rapper/singer/songwriter with a highly enjoyable album.

I never heard of Plan B so after a NPR interview I was fascinated to check it out. The album has not disappointed. Concept albums go back to the days when music singles could not be cut out of a larger plan. Start to finish you feel the story and appreciate the stew created from hip hop, rap, soul, R&B and techno. Musical stew like this is even better the second time. For me, it is tracking up on the number of time played on my ipod. Unique music from the UK has opened up a new world for me and when an artist can do that I start sending to my friends.

Simply put....if I could create a sixth star to give this album I would. It is inventive and addictive. I am in love with this album. Buy it and listen to it start to finish. Each song by itself is amazing...but when put together, tells a story that is like reading a book you can't put down.

The solo effort `Who Needs Actions When You've Got Words' from British musician Ben Drew, aka `Plan B' flashed major talent but somehow failed to resonate. `Charmaine' stood out, as Drew told the tale of falling for a 14 year old, channeling Musiq's classic `Seventeen'. Though lacking the craftmanship of `Seventeen', `Charmaine' is a a heart felt tale of instincts betraying morals of the sort that usually is found only in the finest of literature and rarely found in song. Despite such moments of gut wrenching storytelling, there were a lot of segments to `Who Needs Action' that fell apart as forced and cliche . . . resoundingly feeling inauthentic.

Shortly thereafter came Plan B's `Paint it Blacker' mixtape that led the listener to believe the larger process of melodic songwriting may have been Drew's primary holdback, as simply sitting back and bussin' rhymes over heavy samples allowed him to shine through strongly. As brilliant as the mixtape was broadly, near the end of the mixtape was a genuinely raw and soulful rape and murder ditty called `James Brown is Dead' that displayed a vocal range not effectively used from a male performer since Remy Shand. Clearly . . . HOPEFULLY . . . far from a truthful tale, `James Brown is Dead' still shone off as incredibely, eerily, genuine. The type of track to throw the listener's perception of Drew for a loop. Was Plan B a potentially great MC or was there a more transcendental musician lying underneath the surface dying to get out? The question would soon enough be answered.

`The Defamation of Strickland Banks' is an entirely fictional account wherein Drew enacts the persona of a felon soul-singer chasing redemption and forgiveness of the highest order, intimate cries intended only for the mirror and God.Read more ›

Forums

I wouldnt hold your breath, im getting really fed up with itunes not carrying the music I want, how hard can it be to have it available in the 21st century to sort out the licences? Surely they want to sell the bloody stuff to us. I ended up getting the Plan B album and another couple sent to me... Read More